Interlocking device for ornamental construction



Sept. 16 1958 J. l. MORAVEC, JR

INTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR ORNAMENTAL CONSTRUCTION Filed A112. 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.3

John I. Moravec, J1:

Waxy

P 1958 J. MORAVEC, JR 2,851,806

INTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR ORNAMENTAL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T A} /0 I. m 38 a7 I0 I2 5 3a 24 1 2 /0 r x a4 LEI! Fig. 8

John Moral/ac, Jr. INVENTOR.

United States Patent INTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR ORNAMENTAL CONSTRUCTION John I. Moravec, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application August 17, 1956, Serial No. 604,786

8 Claims. (CI. 41-10) This invention comprises a novel and useful interlocking device for ornamental construction and more particularly relates to an ornamental construction consisting of a plurality of interlocking elements which may be associated together in various selected ways in order to produce distinctive ornamental constructions.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an interlocking ornamental construction whereby a relatively few elements may be interchangeably and detachably connected together in an interlocking manner to provide and form different types of ornamental structures.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interlocking ornamental construction in accordance with the foregoing object whereby various distinctive and different ornamental ladder-type of ornamentations may be effected.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device and assembly in accordance with the foregoing objects wherein L-shaped members and relatively slidable sectional connectors may be interchangeably connected with each other and with a pair of side or center rails as the case may be to produce various ornamental laddertype configurations.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view, certain concealed parts being shown in dotted lines therein, and parts being broken away, of one suitable mode of applying the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, parts being broken away, and parts shown in vertical section, of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional detailed view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of the sections of a connector together with the L-shaped members associated with each; and,

Figures 711 are fragmentary views in horizontal plan showing various modified forms of the sectional connectors which may be employed with this invention.

The general and basic purpose of this invention is to provide an assembly of simple elements which may be readily interlocked and engaged with each other in different manners in order to produce a symmetrical character or pattern for an ornamental construction, and especially to produce silhouette, bas-relief or intaglio effects.

In the embodiment of Figures l-6 which illustrates one satisfactory manner in which the principles of the invention may be applied to produce a ladder-type of ornamentation, it will be seen that there are provided a pair of elongated side or center rails each indicated by the numeral 10, and which at suit-able longitudinally spaced positions along their length are provided with laterally projecting bosse 12, the bosses of the two rails being illustrated as disposed in horizontal alignment with each other, although a relatively staggered relation of the same could be employed where desired.

Each of the bosses upon the lateral face of the same which is adjacent to the complementary boss of the other rail is provided with a transversely thickened bulge 14 and in this bulbous or bulged portion of the boss 12 there is provided a socket 16 as willbe apparent from Figure 3. Upon the lower end face of each of the bosses 12, and if desired upon the upper end faces thereof, there are provided longitudinally extending openings 18.

The side or center rails 10 and their boss construction previously described constitute one type of element of the ornamental assembly.

Pairs of L-shaped members 20 are provided having an end portion 22 of each adapted to be frictionally secured in a socket 16 as will be best apparent from Figures 2 and 3, whereby the L-shaped members have horizontally disposed arm portions 24 projecting towards each other from the complementary bosses of the two side or center rails and in alignment with each other when the bosses are in horizontal alignment. The members 20 are also provided with perpendicular portions 26 which extend and lie generally medially of the two side rails and extend longitudinally from their associated bosses and towards a next adjacent pair of bosses. The extremities 28 of the arm portions 26 are adapted to be detachably secured in connector elements indicated generally by the numeral 30 and of a construction to be subsequently described. By means of these connector elements the members 20 of each pair may be adjustably secured together and as so connected will produce an ornamental effect of a ladderlike character which may be repeated at desired intervals along the length of the side or center rails. On the plurality of side or center rails, a series of parallel columns of such ornamentation may be provided over any desired area.

Cooperating with the connectors 30 are other pairs of L-shaped members 32 each of which has perpendicular arms 34 and 36. The ends 38 of the arms 36 are adapted to be frictionally secured in the previously mentioned openings 18 of the bosses 12, while the ends 38 of the arm portions 34 are adapted to be frictionally, detachably or rigidly secured in corresponding bores 40 in the opposite lateral faces of the connectors 30.

It will thus be apparent that the connectors 30 may serve to connect the pair of members 20 and the other pair of members 32 rigidly together in an interchangeable manner, as will be best apparent from Figure 2.

Referring now particularly to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the connectors 30 consist of a pair of complementary sections 44 and 46 which have joining surfaces for interlocking sliding engagement with each other whereby the sections are limited to relative longitudinal sliding movement. For this purpose, each section may be provided with a stepped recessed shoulder 48 and a flange 50 whose outer surfaces are parallel to each other as will be apparent from a comparison of Figures 4, 5 and 6; and wherein these stepped surfaces are connected by a medial plane 52. As will thus be seen by comparing Figures 4 and 6, the two sections may be connected together and will be prevented from other than longitudinal sliding movement when either or both of the pairs of L-shaped members are secured thereto.

In lieu of the interlocking grooved surfaces 48, 5G and 52 of the embodiment of Figures 1-6, the connectors 30 may have various modified interlocking grooved connections such as those illustrated at 60 in Figure 7, 62 in Figure 8, 64 in Figure 9, 66 in Figure and 68 in Figure 11. In all of these embodiments, however, the construction of the connector sections is identical with that previously described except for the type of interlocking sliding grooved connection between the two sections.

In some instances, the ornamental effect may be obtained by omitting one of the two sets of L-shaped mem bers which are secured to the connector 30, or various selected L-shaped members may be omitted in order to produce different ornamental and artistic silhouettes and designs. The assembly thus consists of a relatively few elements which may be interchangeably connected in various manners to provide ornamental unit constructions, and these may be multiplied or repeated as often as desired.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ladder-type interlocking ornamental construction comprising a pair of longitudinally extending rails having flat, straight outer surfaces and longitudinally spaced lateral bosses on their adjacent inner surfaces projecting towards each other, the adjacent faces of adjacent bosses on adjacent rails having sockets therein, pairs of L-shaped members each having one extremity thereof frictionally secured in one of said sockets and having their other extremities disposed in parallel relation between said side rails and in longitudinally spaced relation to their first mentioned extremities, connectors having recesses for receiving and frictionally retaining said other extremities and supported solely by the latter.

2. A ladder-type interlocking ornamental construction comprising a pair of longitudinally extending rails having flat, straight outer surfaces and longitudinally spaced lateral bosses on their adjacent inner surfaces projecting towards each other, the adjacent faces of adjacent bosses on adjacent rails having sockets therein, pairs of L-shaped members each having one extremity thereof frictionally secured in one of said sockets and having their other extremities disposed in parallel relation between said rails and in logitudinally spaced relation to their first mentioned extremities, connectors having recesses for receiving and frictionally retaining said other extremities and supported solely by the latter, said connectors comprising each a pair of sections having joining surfaces for interlocking sliding engagement, each section having at one end thereof one of said recesses.

3. A ladder-type interlocking ornamental construction comprising a pair of longitudinally extending rails having flat, straight outer surfaces and longitudinally spaced lateral bosses on their adjacent inner surfaces projecting towards each other, the adjacent faces of adjacent bosses on adjacent rails having sockets therein, pairs of L-shaped members each having one extremity thereof frictionally secured in one of said sockets and having their other extremities disposed in parallel relation between said side rails and in longitudinally spaced relation to their first mentioned extremities, connectors having recesses for receiving and frictionally retaining said other extremities and supported solely by the latter, said connectors comprising each a pair of sections having joining surfaces for interlocking sliding engagement, the opposite lateral faces of each section having a bore for frictionally receiving an end of another of said members.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said bosses have each an opening in an end thereof for receiving the other end of one of said other members.

5. A ladder-type interlocking ornamental construction comprising a pair of longitudinally extending rails having fiat, straight outer surfaces and longitudinally spaced lateral bosses on their adjacent inner surfaces projecting towards each other, the adjacent faces of adjacent bosses on adjacent rails having sockets therein, pairs of L-shaped members each having one extremity thereof frictionally secured in one of said sockets and having their other extremities disposed in parallel relation between said rails and in longitudinally spaced relation to their first mentioned extremities, connectors having recesses for receiving and frictionally retaining said other extremities and supported solely by the latter, said bosses having each an opening in an end thereof and said connectors having bores in their opposite lateral faces, additional pairs of L- shaped members having the extremities of each frictionally engaged in said openings and bores.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said connectors comprise each a pair of sections having joining surfaces for interlocking sliding engagement, each section having at one end thereof one of said recesses.

7. The combination of claim 2 wherein said joining surfaces have complementary locking grooves limiting relative movement of said sections to longitudinal sliding movement.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said bosses have each an opening in an end thereof and said connectors have bores in their opposite lateral faces, additional pairs of L-shaped members having the extremities of each frictionally engaged in said openings and bores.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,405 Handel Jan. 12, 1909 

